BostonBrew

I appreciate the article but after reading it, I have some hesitations. The author sounds more like a disgruntled clubmaker than a scientist. It could be just the tone in which he wrote the article and my experience being in hard scientific articles, but it didn't convince me.

When it comes to bourbon/whiskey (or any liquor really), it depends on your intentions. If you wish to mix it, buy cheap. If you wish to drink it, go for the better stuff. (Was my Dad's golden rule) For instance, if we're drinking whiskey and cokes, I'm buying Kentucky Gentleman at $14 a handle. But if we're drinking whiskey on the rocks, I'm picking up a bottle of Jameson or Dancing Pines (local distillery in Colorado, they also make the BEST spiced rum I've ever had). Eagle Rare is another good whiskey, but I typically have to have a few mixed ones before drinking it on the rocks.

Just read that TV ratings dropped 7% for the US Open compared to last year's.

There's no need really. The ball flights aren't going to change that much between a normal range ball or a top shelf ball. When they're on the range, they're simply warming up and working on striking the ball well and testing the waters. The ProV1x's qualities are only going to come in to play in the short game and putting for the most part. Despite what people think about low-spin balls not slicing or hooking as much, the numbers actually don't change that much.

My biggest complaint when it comes to course design is when all of the par 3's are similar lengths. A good example of this is Stumpy Lake at Virginia Beach. I hit 5 iron on 3/4 of them. The only reason I hit a 6 iron on the 4th was because the wind was helping. They were all 175-185 yards. That's boring in my opinion. So a feature of a good golf course, for me, is different yardages and looks on the par 3's.

I agree with the others. No need in compounding your progress by getting advice or instruction from multiple sources. They'll cover everything you need to do to improve. Good luck.

I think the manufacturers are doing it on purpose. The casual golfer more than likely never thinks to look at the lofts of the clubs. He sees a number on the club and compares it to the number on his old set. So when he picks up a 6 iron, lofted like his old 5 iron, and hits it 10-15 yards further than he expects, he's convinced the club hits the ball longer and must have them.

Hahaha, this sums up almost every Big Break with girls involved for me. Fun looking challenges with eye candy.

The shafts are probably where the biggest difference is between a box set from Wal-Mart and a "premium" set. As well as feel from the club head. As for the lofts on the club, there is a reasonably high chance that your new PW is the same loft as your old 9.

Because EJ just made this a little weird... Stacy Keibler

I had given up hope on this. If it gains any more interest, we'll do it.

Instead of making an equipment change, you could take your PW or what ever your closest club is, choke down and make a 75% (or whatever % is needed) swing for that 110 yardage.

I want the 3 minutes it took me to read this thread back...

I know I'm digging up a long dead thread, but I figured this was the place to post this instead of starting a new one. On the range today, before my 9 holes, a mid-30s guy walked over and complimented me on my swing. He asked if I would mind watching him hit some balls and offer some advice. I said sure. So I walked over behind him. Two spots down was another guy, who overheard the gentleman ask me for advice and decided he too would offer his two cents. The guy hits a few balls. He was swaying instead of turning and all that movement made it very difficult for him to strike the ball well. I showed him what I was talking about. Before he could hit a ball, the other guy came over and inserted that the man's grip was all wrong. He was baseball gripping the club, but that wasn't the main reason he was hitting the ball so poorly. It was then that I heard one of the most illogical statements I've come across. "Expert Joe" informed the poor guy that because his right thumb was on top of the shaft, it was causing his left shoulder to drop... And that if he just placed his thumb on the side of the shaft, his swing worries would simply vanish. Now I didn't take any anatomy courses in college, but I'm fairly confident that the placement of the right thumb on the grip has no consequence on the left shoulder.

Yeah, in school, that's what it means. But this poll, you could pick all of them if you wanted, although it wouldn't make much sense. I understand what you mean now by saying that if they chose a "lesser" event, they would also accept the others as being worthy.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this poll. It's a multiple choice poll, so you can select multiple options. 25 people have participated, but only 7 said they'd miss a round of golf to witness something historic, along with whatever else they chose as being worthy of not playing. Correct me if I'm wrong about that.

I'm a bit shocked to be honest. Only 6 votes for witnessing something "historic" ??? You'd rather play golf than follow Tiger on the final round of winning his 19th Major?? That kind of stuff only happens once in a generation. I can miss a round of golf to witness that.

Hahaha. I'm sorry but this cracked me up. I used to be a starter on heavily booked days and always enjoyed chatting up the guys as they came up. I distinctly remember this one guy. Looked and talked like a scratch golfer. Our course offered free yardage books and I always carried a handful and some extra scorecards for those who forgot them. First hole has a forced carry of about 175 from the white tees to a fairway that slopes right to left towards a pond. Fairway bunkers at the end of the fairway about 280 from the tee box. He asks me how far out the bunkers are and I tell him and show him the yardage in the book. He claims there is no way. Apparently the last time he played, he hit a hybrid through the fairway. I told him maybe he should try out for some Long Drive competitions if he is hitting a hybrid 280. He continues to argue with me. I finally just tell them to go ahead and let em' rip and sit down in my cart. He duck-hooked two in a row into the pond and I couldn't help but chuckle.

If your current swing produces a predictable, consistent, and repeatable pull draw, play it. If you wish to make changes to your swing to produce a different ball flight, be prepared to put in many, many hours on the range. It will likely cause a lot of very frustrating rounds as you inevitably mix old habits with new swing thoughts. But in the end, it could make you a better golfer. In all honesty though, if you're hitting 15 GIRs and playing to a 20, your putting must be horrendous.

I wasn't too concerned with USGA's setup. I like the long rough, but as stated prior, having a good tee shot roll through a fairway into the rough isn't fair. And I felt some of the pin locations were borderline. But overall, I think they did a pretty good job.

Walked a fairly easy 9 hole course today, Poplar Forest Golf Course in Lynchburg, VA. Shot 41. Double bogeyed 1 and 2. Then made 6 straight pars. Bogeyed 9. Wasn't terribly upset about the score, but I wasn't happy either. Breaking down the numbers, however, clearly showed where I will be spending my practice time this week. 2/7 Fairways (missed all of them to the right) 5/9 GIR 17 putts (3-putt on 1) 2 downright awful chips from the fringe Need to hit more fairways and work on my chipping and putting. Shot of the day was a flushed 4 iron on 7. Ball was in the right rough and 202 to the middle. Put it on the green to about 20 feet from the pin. Always happy hitting a GIR from 200+.

Attending a Major in person is always a good reason not to play. I would not play to watch a Major as well, but fortunately I don't have to. More often than not, I can get a round in before the TV coverage starts. Best of both worlds.

That was a fantastic US Open. An old architecture, rain soaked, sub-7000-yard track requires a +1 score to win. Well played and well deserved by Justin Rose.

What an awesome Sunday this is going to be. So pumped to watch this Final Round. Let's go Luke!!